Oneida—On Sept. 29, Oneida Baptist Institute administrators, board of trustees and other distinguished guests held a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the school’s new 200-bed dormitory, Carnahan-Daugherty Hall.

Ken Bolin, pastor of Manchester Baptist Church and OBI trustee, led the dedicatory prayer for Carnahan-Daugherty Hall.

OBI president Larry Gritton Jr., introduced Arthur Walker III, owner of The Walker Company, in charge of construction for the new dormitory. Other guests included architect Todd Ott, members of the Walker Company, Donna McClure from Senator Mitch McConnell’s office, OBI new construction coordinator Paul Filiatreau, and freshman Orloff Phillips representing the boys’ dormitory.

The new 200-bed facility will replace the old Carnahan Hall, which was constructed in 1968. The original Carnahan Hall was a girls’ dorm built in 1905 and made possible by a gift from Mr. & Mrs. Robert Carnahan, one of Oneida’s greatest benefactors in its early days.

The first building was demolished in 1967. A second Carnahan Hall was built in 1968 as a boys’ dormitory and maintained the name to honor the early benefactor and Oneida storekeeper.

In 2013, OBI was notified that Wesley Daugherty had left the school an estate gift—the largest gift the school has ever received. According to his CPA, Daugherty came to Oneida with his church group a few times and fell in love with Oneida.

The new boys’ dormitory will be named Carnahan-Daugherty Hall to honor both the past and present donors. Demolition on the old dorm began June 29.

The last time a new dormitory was built on the campus was in 1982 with the construction of Preston and Ruby Baker Hall. (WR)